International Studies M.S.
Program Rationale:
The Master’s of Science in the International Studies program educates students in several key areas of the world: Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Global Studies (focused on a global theme). Students are grounded in theories of internationalization, history of diverse countries and regions, cross-cultural issues, and features of various international cultures and are provided programmatic, analytical, and practical skills to address international issues. The program prepares generalists to work in governmental and non-governmental organizations within and outside of the United States to address issues related to the global human experience.
The International Studies Master's program is designed to produce individuals competent in understanding the interrelated nature of global phenomena, confident in their membership in a community of global citizens, and capable of fulfilling various professional positions related to the field of International Studies. To further these overarching goals, the learning outcomes of the IS graduate program concern the student's ability to express these competencies in formal essays (including a thesis or capstone project) and presentations of research projects and policy positions.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Graduates of the Master's program will:
- demonstrate tolerance of and insights into the diversity of cultural values, beliefs and worldviews;
- demonstrate advanced proficiency in the history, culture, and language(s) of a particular world region;
- demonstrate detailed knowledge of the interconnectedness of global phenomena;
- critically approach social, political, and economic cultural issues of a global nature;
- collect and analyze data on several projects of a global scope or which relate to a particular world area;
- produce and defend an extensive scholarly paper (thesis or capstone project), based on primary research, that focuses on a single world area or links diverse world areas in a global theme;
- demonstrate international competency, theoretical mastery, use of literature, data, evidence, and argument at an advanced level in the scholarly paper.
A MS degree in International Studies prepares students for a range of career opportunities in government, in non-profit foundations and NGOs, in for-profit entities, and in a wide range of other institutions offering services transnationally or otherwise working in global environments.
In addition to the regular admission requirements, an applicant for the MS in International Studies program must send a resume and an essay that addresses his/her past experiences, career goals, and the region in which he/she wishes to specialize (select from Africa, East Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Global Studies). Instructions for uploading the resume and essay will be found within the graduate online application. Once the application is complete, it will be directed to the chair of the region in which the student seeks to specialize.
Early applications are encouraged for full consideration. The admission deadline for spring semester is November 1, and May 1 for fall semester.
Admission Requirements:
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Applicants must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale (where A is 4.00), or its equivalent. Applicants with a GPA between 2.40 – 2.99 who demonstrate potential and whose coursework and/or experiences relate to International Studies can be considered for conditional admission.
The admissions application, application fee, and official transcripts from each college and university attended (except Central Connecticut State University) must be submitted to the Graduate Recruitment and Admissions Office.
Additional Materials Required:
In addition to the regular admission requirements, an applicant for the MS in International Studies program must send a resume and an essay that addresses his/her past experiences, career goals, and the area in which he/she wishes to specialize (select from Africa, East Asia, European Union/ Western Europe, Latin America, Slavic/ Eastern Europe, and Middle East). Each application must be sent electronically or by mail to the International Studies Director, who will then direct it to the chair of the region in which the student seeks to specialize. Early applications are encouraged. The admission deadline for spring semester is November 1; for fall semester the deadline is May 1.
Contact: 860-832-2617
Course and Capstone Requirements
30 credits in International Studies (Plan A or Plan C)
1. Common Core
| IS 500 | Practicing International Studies | 3 |
| IS 570 | Modern World Issues | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
2. Geographical Areas and Global Themes (18 credits)
Students will select 6-12 Credits from each of our program’s two focuses, for a total of 18 credits.
Geographical Areas:
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus in a particular world geographical area.
9 credits for students who wish to balance area and global focuses.
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a global theme.
Courses listed below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be identified with the approval of the advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Course Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies), HIST 580 (Seminar in Non-Western World History), and HIST 585 (Modern World History) could be included in each area depending on the topic of those courses when offered.
* For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
2a. Geographical Areas:
Africa (6 to 12 credits)
| ANTH 416 | Archaeology of Africa | 3 |
| ANTH 424 | Peoples and Cultures of Africa | 3 |
| GEOG 446 | Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 |
| HIST 545 | History of South Africa since 1900 | 3 |
| PS 421 | Government and Politics of Africa | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| IS 597 | Graduate Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
HIST 431 and HIST 476: For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
East Asia (6 to 12 credits)
Latin America (6 to 12 credits)
| GEOG 434/LAS 434 | Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean | 3 |
| GEOG 436/LAS 436 | South America | 3 |
| HIST 583 | Seminar in Latin American History | 3 |
| PS 420 | Government and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| IS 597 | Graduate Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| SPAN 545 | The Spanish-American Essay | 3 |
| SPAN 588 | Topics in the Contemporary Spanish-Speaking World | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
HIST 455 and HIST 460: For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Middle East (6 to 12 credits)
| PS 434 | Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa | 3 |
| PS 439 | U.S. Middle East Policy | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| IS 597 | Graduate Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
HIST 431 and HIST 474: For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Europe (6 to 12 credits)
| GEOG 444 | European Union | 3 |
| GEOG 448 | Russia and Neighboring Regions | 3 |
| HIST 540 | Seminar in European History | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| IS 597 | Graduate Seminar in International Studies | 3 |
| ITAL 571 | 20th-Century Italian Literature | 3 |
| SPAN 571 | Generation of '98 | 3 |
| SPAN 572 | 20th-Century Spanish Literature | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
2b. Global Themes (6 - 12 credits)
12 credits for students who wish to develop a primary focus on a particular global theme.
9 credits for students who wish to balance global and area focuses
6 credits for students who wish to complement their primary focus on a geographical area.
Courses below are for advisory purposes only. Additional courses may be approved by your advisor. For example, IS 550 (Graduate Internship in International Studies), IS 590 (Course Abroad), IS 596 (Independent Studies in International Studies), IS 597 (Seminar in International Studies), HIST 580 (Seminar in Non-Western World History), and HIST 585 (Modern World History) could be included in each Transnational theme category depending on the topic.
* For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
Global Themes
Communication and Diversity in the Global Context (6 to 12 credits)
| COMM 543 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| EPS 528 | Comparative and International Education | 3 |
| ENG 486 | World Literature and Film | 3 |
| IS 571 | International Diversity and Integration | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| SPAN 441 | Cross-Cultural Communication | 3 |
| WGSS 469 | Readings in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
Energy, Resources, and Environment (6 to 12 credits)
| COMM 451 | Environmental Communication | 3 |
| GSCI 450 | Environmental and Engineering Geology | 3 |
| GEOG 433 | Issues in Environmental Protection | 3 |
| GEOG 473 | Geography of Natural Resources | 3 |
| SUST 500 | Social, Political, and Ethical Dimensions of Global Sustainability | 3 |
| SUST 501 | Contemporary Challenges in Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
| SUST 502 | Science for Sustainability | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
Population, Mobility, and Development (6 to 12 credits)
Governance, Security, and Human Rights (6 to 12 credits)
| CJ 510 | Law, Criminal Justice, and Issues of Inequality | 3 |
| COMM 454 | Communication and Social Change | 3 |
| PS 445 | Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation | 3 |
| PS 501 | Advanced Studies in International Law | 3 |
| IS 596 | Independent Studies | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6-12 |
HIST 420: For any course designated HIST 4XX, graduate students must register for HIST 495 to receive graduate credit.
3. Research and Capstone Requirements (6 credits)
Plan A:
| IS 598 | Research in International Studies | 3 |
| IS 599 | Thesis in International Studies | 3 |
Plan C:
| IS 595 | Special Project in International Studies | 3 |
| IS 598 | Research in International Studies | 3 |
4. Language and/or Study Abroad Requirements
The International Studies program requires that all students have a level of proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding of a single modern language, preferably relevant to the area of geographical specialization, equal to the completion of the 226 level. Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by a CCSU instructor of the language, the chair of the Modern Language Department, or a CCSU faculty member designated by the director of International Studies.
In addition to the language requirement, IS students without significant life or study experiences abroad are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program, whether a course abroad or a semester or summer exchange. Information about study abroad programs is available at the Center for International Education in Barnard Hall.
NOTE: No more than nine credits at the 400 level, as approved by the graduate advisor, may be counted toward the graduate planned program of study. Initially, on acceptance to the program, students are assigned to the International Studies Curriculum Coordinator for advice. As soon as possible, students will be assigned an advisor appropriate to their area or global specialization. This advisor will normally serve as the faculty member supervising the student's thesis or special project.
Total Credit Hours: 30